The determination of a 22-year-old girl going to 6th grade

In a simple white uniform, Nhu Huynh sits among younger friends, embarking on a new journey.

After years of struggling to make a living, her hands were calloused by the struggle for food and money, Huynh was overwhelmed with joy when she saw her name on the list of 6C class students of the District 6 Vocational Education - Continuing Education Center. It was not only a new page in her life, but also a journey to find the dream of literacy that seemed so far away.

The dream of learning is unfinished because of making a living

Huynh’s childhood was spent with his grandmother in poverty. Every day, the two of them wandered around Thi Nghe market with a stack of lottery tickets in hand. At night, they quietly searched through piles of discarded vegetables, hoping to salvage some intact food.

While other children happily went to school in their white uniforms, Huynh could only learn to read and write through charity night classes. After studying until grade 5, tragedy struck: his grandmother, his only support, suffered a stroke, paralyzed half of his body, and then passed away when Huynh was only 14 years old. That shock made his already precarious childhood even more empty.

Studying had to stop. However, Huynh’s passion for writing never left him. He still diligently read old books and pondered over each newspaper to ease the regret of his unfinished dream of going to school.

Growing up, Huynh earned a living by working as a salesman. The job helped him manage his life, but then worries gradually appeared. “When I was young, I could run around, but after 30 years old, will I still be agile enough to stick with the job? If I don’t study, I will be eliminated,” Huynh asked himself.

That question became the driving force that urged Huynh to decide to return to school. For him, going to class is not only to resume his dream of learning, but also an opportunity to open up a new direction, a stable career and a more secure future.

Go to school to master the future

The day she received her admission letter, Huynh was filled with emotion. What seemed normal to many people was a big dream for the 22-year-old girl. For the first time, she sat in a spacious classroom with a projector and air conditioning; for the first time she knew what a school cafeteria was like. “Everything was new, even writing the date in my notebook was confusing, I made two mistakes,” Huynh said.

During the day, Huynh still goes to sell goods; in the afternoon, she goes to class. There are many difficulties: knowledge is interrupted, pressure to balance between studying and working, and the feeling of learning late compared to her peers. But Huynh is not alone. At the District 6 Vocational Education - Continuing Education Center, she finds sympathy among students of many ages who share the same desire to learn. "We all have the same will to learn, regardless of age," Huynh shared.

What helped Huynh become more confident was the dedication of his teachers. They not only taught him, but also encouraged and motivated him to persevere in pursuing his dream of knowledge. Huynh's story spread on social media, receiving countless congratulations, becoming a great source of motivation for him to believe in his choice.

If you are determined to do it, you may get more or less. But if you do not dare to do it, you will definitely get nothing.
Huynh Thi Nhu Huynh

For me, going to class at the age of 22 is a way to affirm my right to study, to choose my own path and to take control of my future.

Currently still working in the service industry, Huynh hopes to gain more knowledge to further develop his favorite field. The decision to return to school, therefore, is not only a personal effort, but also a testament to the value of the continuing education system, which opens a “second door” for those who have left their dreams of education unfinished.

Huynh's journey reminds us that it is never too late to go to school. As long as we dare to think and dare to do, everyone can continue their dream of studying, regardless of their age.